A COUPLE who stole a designer coat and a leather and lace Agent Provocateur play suit worth nearly £1,000 were handed 160 hours' unpaid work.

Darren Pearce and Tamara Murdock[corr] had been shopping in Bicester Village with their two children on August 29 last year when they stole the designer clothing, a court heard.

Prosecutor Clare Barclay told Banbury Magistrates' Court on Wednesday the pair stole a green and black Canet coat worth £753.50 from Moncler as well as the £995 playsuit.

Ms Barclay said the pair were spotted by another customer at the designer outlet shopping centre, who raised the alarm.

She added: "They saw them picking out a Moncler coat and secreting it in the children's pushchair.

"The couple were spoken to by security and the Moncler coat recovered.

"They then went out to a car the couple had parked, in the boot was found a play suit from Agent Provocateur."

Hair and beauty student Murdock, 40, and 41-year-old Pearce both admitted two counts of theft totalling £1,748.50 when they appeared before magistrates at a hearing in March.

David Smith, defending, said the thefts had been "stupid and opportunistic" crimes and both his clients had shown remorse.

He added: "The goods were recovered so there was no actual harm done.

"It's not sophisticated offending by any means.

"It was simply a silly, opportunistic decision and clearly the wrong one at the time.

"Both are remorseful and recognise that now."

Trainee fitness instructor Pearce, of Dyson Road, Edmonton, London, was handed a community order with 100 hours' unpaid work and a years' supervision.

Murdock, of King Edward's Road, London, was ordered to carry out 60 hours' unpaid work as well as a years' supervision.